Chip Meara, Mercer Council on Alcoholism & Drug Addiction
Youth use of alcohol in New Jersey is a pervasive and critical public health problem. The problem is epidemic by any public health standard. Given their age and inexperience, many youth consume alcohol in ways that are very dangerous and result in serious medical issues or alcohol overdoses. When youth between the ages of 12 and 20 consume alcohol, they drink more heavily and engage in more binge drinking than adults. They drink, on average, about five drinks per occasion. By comparison, adult drinkers age 26 and older consume on average two to three drinks per occasion.
Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks in a row on one occasion, and is a particularly dangerous form of drinking that can result in alcohol poisoning or death. 911 lifeline legislation encourages young people to call for help in the event of an alcohol emergency by providing that those who call for help will not be subject to charges otherwise triggered by laws relating to underage drinking.
I ask the New Jersey Legislature to support 911 lifeline legislation, which can save lives in cases of alcohol overdoses. For more information about 911 lifeline legislation and underage drinking prevention, please contact me at 609-396-5874.
Chip Meara, Community Educator
Mercer Council on Alcoholism
and Drug Addiction
Trenton
